Mid-Week Report: The Latest News, Products and Events
Welcome to the May 22nd, Mid-Week Report!
Welcome to the May 22nd, Mid-Week Report!
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Mark Cavendish’s misfortunes continue. After a disappointing Spring campaign Cavendish arrived at the Tour of California looking for stage wins. The Briton looked to be in contention on the run up to the finish of stage one but couldn’t pull off a result. For the remainder of the week Cavendish could be found off the back of the race struggling to survive the time cuts.
BONUS PHOTO
A 60kph crash on the home straight took out German sprinter Pascal Ackermann during stage 10 of the Giro. Winner of two stages so far, and wearer of the sprint points jersey, Ackermann got back in the saddle and trundled across the line with the left side of his outfit in tatters, showing painful looking grazes.
Ackermann retains a slight advantage over Demare in the sprint points ranking and both riders intend, unlike many others, to finish the Giro in the hope of winning the Cyclamen Jersey.
VIDEO: NEW SPINERGY WHEELS
WORKOUT WEDNESDAY: HOW TO EAT AND DRINK FOR MULTI-DAY EVENTS
This week I am riding the 7-day Amgen Tour of California Race Experience, Coach Colin Izzard worked with riders at the 3-day Chef’s Cycle ride in Santa Rosa, CA, and on the East Coat coaches Matthew Busche, Reid Beloni, and Nina Laughlin are riding with CTS Athletes at a 3-day event in Asheville, North Carolina. One of the important roles we play as coaches during these events is helping athletes adapt their nutrition and hydration strategies to optimize their energy and recovery from day to day.
Here is how you should eat and drink to ride strong all the way through a multi-day cycling event (or training block).
Eat breakfast – but not too much
Many multiday events feature early start times. During the ATOC Race Experience, we have to be on the road by 7:00am – sometimes even earlier. That means you’re not going to wake up to eat 2-3 hours ahead of the start. To get more sleep you might eat an hour beforehand instead.
When eating sooner before a long day on the bike, it is wise to eat a lighter meal so you can digest it and avoid starting feeling full or bloated. Try a couple of eggs for protein and fat, and carbohydrates from cereal, a bagel or bread, or a bowl of rice or potatoes. If you eat dairy, a bowl of cereal and yogurt can be a good combination.
The big thing is not to stuff yourself. Yes, you have a long day on the bike ahead of you, and especially after the first day you’ll likely be hungry in the morning. However, for sustained energy and to feel good in the first hour (which is often a high pace), I recommend eating a smaller breakfast and starting to consume food on the bike sooner.
RECAP AND RESULTS: GIRO D’ITALIA STAGE 11
Australian Caleb Ewan won a sprint finish to take the 11th stage of the Giro d’Italia on Wednesday, just ahead of Frenchman Arnaud Demare. Italian Valerio Conti, riding for UAE Emirates, kept the overall leader’s pink jersey before the race heads for the first day in the Alps on Thursday. The 24-year-old Ewan of Lotto-Soudal claimed his second stage win of this year’s race, four days after winning stage eight at Pesaro.
Three Italians who have been consistently active in breakaways — Marco Frapporti, Mirco Maestri and Damiano Cima — once again led a long escape in the 221km stage raced entirely in sunshine. The trio were caught 25km from Novi Ligure, in northwestern Italy.
In the sprint, Australian Ewan chased down German champion Pascal Ackermann, who had to settle for third, a day after crashing. Demare of Groupama-FDJ, the winner of the crash-marred 10th stage at Modena, snatched second place for a boost to overtake Ackermann at the top of the points standings. Italian Elia Viviani, winner of four stages last year, once again fell short, finishing fourth in the sprint.
Thursday’s 12th stage covers 156km between Cuneo and Pinerolo in the Italian Alps, the scene of Fausto Coppi’s mythical long-range attack in 1949.
RECAP AND RESULTS: TOUR OF CALIFORNIA STAGE 7
Tadej Pogacar won the Tour of California on Saturday, finishing safely in the pack as Cees Bol crossed the line first
in a chaotic finish to the seventh and final stage. Pogacar, the 20-year-old Slovenian who rides for UAE Team Emirates, became the youngest winner of the United States’ biggest stage race.
He had seized the overall race lead on Friday, when he snatched victory in the final few meters of the sixth stage — swooping past Colombia’s Sergio Higuita on the final bend to finish first at the summit of Mount Baldy.
Pogacar captured the overall victory ahead of Higuita (Education First) and Deceuninck-QuickStep’s Kasper Asgreen of Denmark.
Asgreen gave Pogacar cause for concern when he joined a breakaway 15 kilometers from the finish and winning a bonus sprint.
But UAE, assisted by Sunweb, reeled in the break just before the start of the last lap of the finishing circuit.
Sunweb’s Bol navigated a messy finish that included a mid-peloton crash to beat Slovakia’s Peter Sagan (Bora).
“It was really tough stage once again,” Pogacar said. “On the climb EF was really making pace and caused all my riders to drop.
“I’m lucky we had one guy in the breakaway that helped a lot. After the attack of Asgreen I knew that my team is coming from behind with full gas.”
ZAP’S COLUMN
In our 10th annual May “Euro issue,” we take a special opportunity to share, highlight, extol and celebrate everything that the overseas crowd has brought to cycling. Yes, I know, while the majority of the bikes and parts inside share European brand names, the majority of them are all made in Asia. Such are the modern realities we have to deal with. Nonetheless, the look and lure of the European products still make us swoon—and there’s nothing a little swoon can’t make better, eh?
DESERT SURPRISES
Also in this issue is the first glimpse of a truly all-new drivetrain. And by “all new,” I don’t just mean in appearance but in actual design philosophy. After a few quiet years following the introduction of their eTap drivetrain, in an attempt to improve the ride experience for the rider that goes far beyond easy installation, SRAM has come storming back with a version of the wireless shifters and derailleurs (page 76) that will do just that.
Dubbed “AXS” (as in access), SRAM is really looking beyond the components themselves and focusing on the actual experience of the end user. As leery as I am to use the word “radical” as a common descriptor of bicycle parts, SRAM’s new drivetrain just might fit the bill.
TRUCKEE DIRT FONDO JUNE 8th
The race will consist of three enhanced routes compared with the inaugural event, taking participants as high as 8,006 feet above sea level over Sardine Peak inside Tahoe National Forest. The course is best suited for mixed-terrain, cyclocross, or mountain bikes. Each participant will be encouraged to select a bike that best suits their style of riding, but the courses will all favor the cyclocross format.
The post-race festival will feature loads of family-oriented activities, food trucks, live music and beer provided by FiftyFifty Brewing Company. Immediately following the start of the main race on Saturday, the event will feature a fun, non-competitive, fully supported family ride along the Legacy trail system and through the Truckee Bike Park.
“The Truckee Dirt Fondo is going to be recognized as a staple that pins Truckee to the consciousness of anyone who owns a gravel bike.” – Carlos Perez, Event Director.
King Ridge Foundation, founded by ex-professional cyclist (and Truckee resident) Levi Leipheimer, in close partnership with Bike Monkey will produce a fundraising gala in association with the event in a showing of support for Adventure Risk Challenge, a California 501(c)3 nonprofit that serves at-risk youth.
GRAN FONDO HINCAPIE SERIES 2019
Gran Fondo Hincapie is a series of events that welcomes riders of every skill level for a weekend of riding and celebration of all things cycling. Join current and past professional cyclists, weekend warriors, and first-time riders on routes planned and tested by George Hincapie himself. The Hincapie family currently hosts events in Greenville, South Carolina; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Fort Worth, Texas; and Boise, Idaho; with plans for continual expansion to other areas across the United States and the world.
Website: www.hincapie.com/granfondo
MAMMOTH GRAN FONDO REGISTRATION OPEN NOW
The Mammoth Gran Fondo takes riders along the east side of Yosemite and the High Sierra with incredible views of the Sierra Nevada, Mono Lake, and White Mountains. 75% of the Gran Fondo route is closed to through traffic matching the incredible scentery with the appropriate calmness. Other highlights include: free event photos, all three distances timed, Signature Event socks, 6 Feed Zones with Full SAG/Tech Support, After-Party with Food/Beer/Live Music in the Village at Mammoth!
Website: www.mammothgranfondo.com
Is there an awesome event happening closer to you? Send a link to [email protected]
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